Documentation Structures

[Hush]

I've started work at a small to medium manufacturer whose specifications are a complete mess. As an example there are 47 different material specs for 4130 one for every single variation in yield str, impact temp, quality requirement, etc. I'd like to try and wrap the 47 into one spec with supplementary requirements identified with a dash number. Before I jump though I'd like to look at alternative formats. Does anyone know of examples on the web of different material specification formats or documentation structures or both?

 

[fjbalaux]

The ASTM makes standards for steels. They have free exemples at

http://www.astm.org.

François

 

[Hush]

Thanks, but not what I'm looking for.

Say I have several different requirements for A487-4C; various impact temperatures, different quality requirements, controlled phosphate & sulphur levels on one but not another. How have others identified these varying requirements in their boms without having to write a differnet spec for each requirement or listing a half dozen supplement numbers every time they enter a new part on the bom. I think I have a way to do it but would like to see if anyone else has had this issue and how they've resolved it.

 

[GregLocock]

We had an Engineering Spec for some drawings. This was controlled in the same way as a drawing, but contained all the material specs, durabilty requirements etc for the part on the drawing. A note on the drawing defined the linkage ie "This part is controlled by engineering spec ES 94DA 1077 AB" or whatever. Does that make sense? Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Hush]

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying each dwg had a companion dwg/spec that detailed the material requirements? Interesting, but it sounds a little bottom heavy for the situation I'm dealing with. A typical dwg of a part here may have 5 possible materials each with 8 diffent supplementary requirements each with 4 levels of quality requirements. I.E. our manufacture is very customer specific.

 

[GregLocock]

"I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying each dwg had a companion dwg/spec that detailed the material requirements? "

Basically, yes. If the spec could be adequately defined on the drawing then it was (eg fastener drawings), but as soon as any significant writing was required then a separate ES was used. To be honest it didn't really start that way, the ES was created to define durability or other acceptance tests, then material specs got thrown in as well. Cheers

Greg Locock